Arsenal are set to welcome one player back into the fold when they take on RC Lens on Wednesday night, but four more will remain absent.
David Raya is set to return to the Arsenal matchday squad on Wednesday, as the Gunners take on RC Lens with the chance to top their Champions League group with a win.
Raya was only absent from Arsenal’s squad against Brentford due to his ineligibility, as a player on loan from the Bees. But there’s nothing keep him out of the team on Wednesday, and you’d expect him to start the match.
As for Fabio Vieira, though he remains suspended in the Premier League, his suspension doesn’t extend to European competition. As a result, he was expected to be available against Lens, but suspended against Wolves at the weekend.
Mikel Arteta, however, confirmed that the midfielder has undergone an operation on his groin and will be out until the new year.
It’s not all good news though. Football.London report that they understand Emile Smith Rowe is still out, and though he could be in with a shot of a return within the fortnight, he’s not available for this one.
In further bad news, Football.London also shoot down reports of an early return for Jurrien Timber. The player’s recovery is going well, but not unusually so.
Thomas Partey also remains absent, with no clear timeframe on his return.
Arsenal’s injury list is at least significantly shorter than it was before the international break.
Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Cedric Soares, Jorginho, and Gabriel Martinelli were all injury doubts ahead of the break, but they were all back in the squad against Brentford.
It’s now just the three longer-term injury sufferers who are still out.